Wheel cover



Jan. 18, 1949. I LYON 2,459,569

WHEEL COVER Filed NOV. 24, 1944 Cfaeat #4 Bauer Yaw WM, 4 '1. 4 5y [7575.

Patented Jan. 18, 1949 1 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE 1, f 2,459,569,", v

WHEEL covert George Albert Lyon, Allenhursj't, N. J. Application November 24, 1944, Serial No. 564,912

6 Claims. (Cl. 301-37) This invention relates to a wheel trim and more particularly to a multi part trim of a novel construction and arrangement to permit of ready disengagement of the parts,

An object of this invention is to provide a flexiblewheel trim wherein the flexibility of the same may be utilized to effect disengagement from the rim of a part normallyheld thereon.

- Still another object of the invention relates to theprovision of a simplified form of wheel trim wherein an improved arrangement is provided for effecting the retention and disengagement of an ornamental trim ring normally carried by the trim.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a novel article of manufacture embracing a circular wheel trim made of relatively thin pliable material, and having a portion thereof formed to retainingly re ceiveamore rigid annular ring, said trim being flexible to dislodge the ring gagement therewith.

Astill further object of the invention relates to'a. provision of a cover structure for a wheel, including the usual multiflangedtire rim and bodyparts, wherein the cover is of such radial extent as to substantially conceal the exposed portion of, the rim and body parts and wherein the cover is provided with an annular depression in which is retained an ornamental bead, a portion of the cover being distortable laterally to effect disengagement of the bead therefrom when desired. t

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully; appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of atire and wheel showing my cover applied thereto;

tFigure 2is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on substantially the line II-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a wheel cover similar to that shown in Figure 2, illustrating how a portion of the cover maybe distorted to disengage the ornamental bead therefrom, the dotted lines showing the normal position of the cover portion prior to distortion or deflection.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference character l designates generally a conventional drop center 'multiflanged tire rim in which is housed the usual tire and tube 9. The worm I0 is carried in the usual Way on a load from retained en- "2 supporting bearing or body part II, which is dished at its center I2 for attachment in the usual way to a support on a vehicle axle. This wheel carries the usualinverted typeof hub capretaining spring [3, which may be of any suitable number, such for examplaas three to five. These springs cooperate in the usual way to retain a removable hub cap 14 at the center of the wheel assembly. Suchstructure is disclosed in numerous patents heretofore granted to me. 7

Thepresent invention is particularly concerned withthe'provision 'of a novel form of wheel trim or cover for this wheel assembly. The cover is designated generally by the reference character l5. It may be made of any suitable thin material having transverseflexibility. Excellent results are obtainable by making this trim or cover [5 of a relatively thin thermoplastic material, such for example, as ethyl cellulose, vinyl resin, etc. The coveris of a circularconfigurationand embraces aflcentrallygdished portion l6, which constitutes-the junction of diverging" radially outer and radially inner portions l1 and i8 re spectively. The outer portion H is slightly turned and is adapted to engage an outer edge of the tire rim at l9. Moreover the portion 11 is of such convex configuration and depth as to appear, in use, to constitute a continuation of the curved outer side wall of the tire. This is obtainedln part by having the portion I! extend radially and axially inwardly from a point in close proximity to the tire to a point adjacent the body part II of the wheel. 1

I find that if the portion l1 is given an externalwhite or eggshell finish, it will, in use, ap-

pear to be a white side wall portion of thet'ire.

In other words, it causes an illusion of the tire appearing toextend clear down to the body part I I, thus making thewheel look as if it had a much larger tire than is actually the case.

' The portion i8 is of such configuration as to l the portion ilfl, anyslight manufacturing tolerance permitted in the body part II can be' accommodated for. This is accomplished by reason of the fact that the portion 20 of the cover may be forced home against the nose of the body part by the hub cap as it is drawn into retained engagement by the clips. In practice I find it desirable to have the outer edge of the cover first engage the rim leaving the portion [8 slightly spaced from the body part. Thus, if there is any variation in the relative locations of the nose of the body part and the outer curled edge of the rim, such variation does not affect the use of the cover inasmuch as when the portion I8 is clamped against the body part it'is deflected into engagement therewith.

My present invention, however, is particularly concerned with the retention of another part or a ring 22 on the cover l5. This ring may be'made of any suitable material but is preferably made.

of a more rigid material than that of the cover and finished and, for this purpose has a radially v outer and axially inner turned under edge 23 and a-radially inner and axially outer under-turnedv edge. 24.. One of these edges is: adapted to. be retainingly engaged with a part of the cover. in the pocket of dished portion I6. I preferably use the radially outer edge 23 for this purpose. The cover portion I18; adjacent to the junction [6 is provided. with a protuberance or shoulder 25 ex: tending axially outwardly. Thisv shoulder may bein a form of a-continuous annular bend or may be. interrupted if it. is so desired. It is of. such adiameter that the radially outer edge 23- of the bead; when pressedthereover will retainingly grip the radially outer side of the same to hold. the head in the dished portion of the, cover.

A. particularly-novel and advantageous aspect of; my invention. relates to the manner in whichv the bead. 22 may be readily disengaged from itsretained: position. on the cover 15; Such disengagement is desirable when it is necessary. to replace the ring 22 or when the trim proper. be-' comes damaged and. it. is, desired to. use the bead 22 over again in another cover structure-.-

Disengagement is veryeasily effectedby flexing or distorting the portion I8 fromthe dotted line: position shown in Figure 3? to the full line posi.-; tion. In the course of this fiexure, theportion L8 is first. disengaged from; its contact with edge 24" of. the bead 22 and thereafter the shoulder 25 is deflected radially and axially inwardly from underneath the. extremity of edge 23. When. the portion I8- is: in this deflected position, the. bead 22. may. be lifted out of: the dished portion 16' of the cover.

; It:-will, or course; be appreciated that thefore I going. fiexure is only a temporary one, inasmuch as; portion I-8 will inherently spring back toxitsoriginal contour in a position to-receiveanother ring or bead 22.

Inasmuch as the radially inner cover portion 4 ward deflection of the cover portion [8 as might tend to dislodge the bead 22 accidentally. To effect the aforesaid disengagement of the bead 22, therefore, requires removal of the cover from the wheel.

I claim as my invention: 1. A cover for a wheel structure including a tire rim and a load supporting body part defining a relatively deep outwardly opening groove therebetw'een, a cover member comprising integral rim concealing and body concealing portions divergingly related with the annular junction thereof arranged to extend rearwardly into said groove, one of said portions having an annular shoulder protruding outwardly adjacent to said juncture, and a reinforcing ring member having inturned engagement edge means in pressed on engagement with the juncture side of said shoulder.

2.,A cover for a wheel structure including, a tire rim. and a load supporting body part defining. a relatively deep outwardly opening groove therebetween, a cover member comprising. integral rim concealingand body concealing portions divergingly related with the annular junction thereof arranged to extend readwardly into said groove, one ofsaid. portions. having an annular shoulder protruding outwardly adjacent to said juncture, and a reinforcing ring, member having .inturned engagement edge; means inv pressed-on.- engagement with the juncture of. said shoulder; said one cover portion being flexibly distortable by manipulation thereof to dislodge said shoulder by drawing the juncture sidethereof from the gripping engagement ofsaid rein.- forcing' ring member. I

A coverfor a wheel structure including; a tire rimand a load supporting body pa-rtadefin ing a. relatively deep: annular outwardly opening-1 groove therebetween, divergingly related integralcover portions adapted to have the juncture: thereof extend: intosaid groove, one. oisaid'portions being. adaptedto conceal the tire rim and being of'a, shape to; conform generally to a: tire. side wall shape to serve in simulation: of a't'ire' side wall continuation extending well rearwarm 151' into saidgroove; the other of said portions be ing engageable with the-bodypartfor attachment of the cover to the wheel structure, said cover portions being formed from a' form-sustairi-ing flexible-plastic material whereby both portions are temporarily substantially deflectable and" will spring back to original form when released, said body engaging portion having a shoulder adja-- cent to the juncturewi-th the rim concealing; portion and facing generally radially outwardly; anda reinforcing trinr member having a radially arched form and; including an inturned' edge structure along its radially outer margin for press-on retaining engagement with the juncture side of saidshoulder, saidrim concealing portion ofthe' cover being freely deflectable' without disturbing, the retaining engagement of the. reinforcing ring member. on the shoulder, said body engaging. portion of. the cover beingrear-wardly deflectable to withdrawv said shoulder from the retaining. engaged relationshipwiththe reinform ing ring. member to dislodge the ring member when desired. I

-4. In a: cover. for a wheel structureincluding a tirerim. and azload supporting body part defining a relatiyely de'ep outwardly opening groovezthere.-- betwe err,: integral rim-concealing. and bodywork cealing circular cover portions divergently related with the annular junction thereof arranged to extend rearwardly into said groove, the bodyconcealing portion of the cover having a shoulder projecting from the face plane thereof adjacent to said juncture, and facing generally radially outwardly, and a reinforcing ring member of flat arched cross-section and having the margins thereof turned under, the cross-sectional chordal plane of, said ring member substantially following the radial plane of said body-concealing cover portion and being of a diameter to fit in the juncture groove between the cover portions and with the radially outer turned under margin in gripping engagement with said shoulder, said bodyconcealing cover portion being flexibly distortable generally normal to its plane away from the reinforcing ring to dislodge said shoulder and draw it inwardly away from the gripping engagement of said radially outer ring margin.

5. In a wheel structure including a tire rim and a load supporting body part defining a relatively outwardly opening groove therebetween, the body part having an annular axially outwardly protruding reinforcing nose portion, a cover member comprising integral rim-concealing and bodyconcealing portions divergingly related with the annular junction thereof arranged to extend rearwardly into said groove, the radiallyinner cover portion being formed essentially complementary to said nose portion and snugly seating thereon, means securing the radially inner portion in said seating relation to the nose portion, said radially inner cover portion having a generally radially outwardly facing shoulder projectin: generally axially outwardly from the plane thereof adjacent to said juncture, and a reinforcing ring member fitting in said juncture and held in place by gripping engagement with said shoulder, said radially inner cover portion being flexibly distortable by manipulation thereof when out of assembly with the wheel to flex the same generally axially inwardly normal to its plane to draw said shoulder from said gripping engagement by the reinforcing ring but being held against flexing when in assembly with the wheel whereby to hold the same against accidental dislodgement of said reinforcing ring.

6. A cover for a wheel structure including a tire rim and a load supporting body part with a relatively deep outwardly opening annular groove therebetween, a cover member comprising rimconcealing and body-concealing annular portions divergently related, the annular junction between said cover portions being arranged to extend rearwardly into said groove, the inner of said cover portions being arranged to engage the wheel body part and having an annular shoulder extending outwardly adjacent to said juncture and facing generally radially outwardly, and a circular member overlying said inner cover portion and having its outer edge directed into the groove formed by the convergence of said cover portions and engaging said shoulder.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name 

